Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 63, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 November 1915 — GETTING THINGS RIGHT. [ARTICLE]

GETTING THINGS RIGHT.

Dr, S. M. Brothers, Cambridge! minister-essayist, is of* the opinion ! ;hat the country at large needs more men who are willing to fight lor the things they believe are right. ‘ Don t you think," he asks, "the contrast is a painful one, when we think of the many who are willing to give ■their lives in Europe for their beliefs, and then of the many here who are not willing to sacrifice themEelves, even to keep the selfish elements in their communities from keeping their hands on those communities?" There is a timeliness about this question: that can; not be denied. It is worth pondering. But Dr. Brothers ought to rememler—and doubtless does- that here in America the man who is inclined to fight.tor what ire believes is right j.loots with little encouragement, He is usually found fighting alone, it lie happens to win, which he docs ■only. alter a hard,: gruelling struggle, he is congratulated. If he loses, which is generally the case, his only reward tor the fight is to be looked upon as a malcontent, a disturber, a "kicker,'’ a "grouch. And the average American prefers uo submit

to a. good many annoyances, to a good deal of injustice and partiality before he is willing to relegate himself to this class. Fear of being known as a “kicker" or a "grouch’, keeps people from making protests that ought no be made. And the failure to make the protests, and to continue to make them as long as there is reason for making them, results in turning over our communities to the "selfish elements to which Dr. Crothers refers. This is moral weakness, of course, and without excuse. But it is a moral weakness that is not discouraged—but encouraged instead—by the .attitude of the public at large, it has almost come to be an American characteristic. And the consequences are observable every days. They show most clearly in the little things. We permit the terms of contracts to be broken; we "stand for” violations of the proWi''"' r>f fraheh’ses; we sanction.

with our silence, offenses against law and against the public good; we encourage, because we make no protest, extravagance, mismanagement of community affairs and even downright corruption. So what Dr. Crothers says is something that we could profitably take to heart. And something that we ought to take to heart. We could have things as they ought to be in a very short time if only we wanted them enough to fight for them. That reflection is daily in the minds of all of us but—we are all silent.—lndianapol s News.

Under the heading ' The Books Are Wide Open,” the Washington Democrat closes the financial discission after this manner: “The trouble with our Republican friends is that when you show them the figures and tell them the state of Indiana is out of debt, they simply can’t believe it. When they had the oilices they were accumulating debts so rapidly and they turned over such a burden of unpaid debts to'the Democrats that they just cairt understand how it is possible for the Democrats to have paid out in five years. Neither can these Republicans, who paid excessive interest charges on long-time current expense loans, understand bow the Democratic State Treasurer. George A. Bittier, managed to make a loan at 2Vo per cent at the start of the administration. I any Republican doubters want to become famous by proving the debtfree statement of the Democrats is not true, they are urged to go to the office of the auditor and treasurer and inspect the books. Otherwise silence will be an excellent idea.”

The Republicans have been forced to call off any further demonstrations because all their functions failed to demonstrate anything more than party weakness and lack of an issue or.excuse for "calling a meeting. Meantime the Democrats all dyer the state are rejoicing in the prosperity- of the country, and meetings wherever held are marked with an enthusiasm such as might be expected from ardent partisans a week before election day. Randolph county has announced a getting together at Winchester November 12. Fayette county will repeat the- prosperity dinner idea at Connersville, November 11. The first district will have "one of the biggest yet’’ at Evansville November 19. And there will be many others.

The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette puts it this way: “The newspaper which in the face of the manifold evidences of satisfactory conditions, real prosperity in fact, seeks to frighten the people by raising a calamity howl, destroying their confidence in men and conditions which have made possible the excellent stake of business, is the worst enemy to any community. Yet it is to that extreme the Republican press is driven—that and yapping at the heels of President Wilson whose steadiness and statesmanship have so ably piloted us free from the troubles that embroil so much of the world today.”

A dispatch from Hammond says: With an order for 6,000 New York Central freight cars, the Standard Steel Car Company is entering into its. greatest activity at the Hammond plant, completely recovering from the effects of the depression in the car building world, and is preparing for continuous operation on tbe prosperity basis. As soon as materials can be obtained it is said that between 2,500 and 3,000 men will be employed. It is estimated the monthly pay roll beginning Jan. 1, will be from $200,000 to $250,000 a month.

Steps have been taken to hasten a ruling on the primary law in the supreme court. While the Democrats have been represented by able counsel in fighting to sustain the law as passed, and while the Republicans have been fighting to have tbe whole law declared unconstitutional, Judge J. M. Paris, at New Albany, sustained the law excepting section thirteen, which requires a fee from all candidates who wish to enter the primary. The Republicans will continue to oppose the law while the Democrats will fight to have it sustained.

The manner in which the precinct committeemen from all over the state are making reports of political conditions is most encouraging to the state committee. It shows a live interest in party welfare in all sections and also indicates that the people are In excellent frame of mind toward both national and state administrations. Through the newspapers it is also noticed that county committee meetings are being held for opening the campaign and perfecting the organizations where any vacancies have occurred.